The Best Thing You Can Give Someone Might Be Your Time (August 12, 2026)

The Ugly Phase Is Part of the Process (July 31, 2026)

 There comes a point in almost every career when you wonder if you're making any progress.

You apply for jobs and hear nothing back.

You start a new role and suddenly feel like you know less than everyone else.

You launch a business, publish content, or begin networking, only to question whether any of it is working.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

I recently read an insightful article from Korn Ferry titled "The Ugly Phase: Can You Survive It?" It describes the uncomfortable period between being a beginner and becoming proficient. It's that season when you've left the comfort of what you know, but you haven't yet reached confidence in what's next.

The article reminded me of something I've seen throughout my 27 years in college athletics communications.

Every successful professional I've met has gone through an ugly phase.

The graduate assistant learning to manage media relations for the first time.

The first-year athletic communications director trying to juggle multiple sports.

The coach taking over a struggling program.

The student preparing for their first job interview.

The entrepreneur launching a new idea before anyone knows their name.

No one skips this stage.

The difference isn't talent.

It's persistence.

Don't Mistake Discomfort for Failure

When things feel awkward, many people assume they're doing something wrong.

In reality, you're probably doing something new.

Growth almost always feels uncomfortable before it feels rewarding.

That's why the people who succeed continue asking questions, seeking mentors, building relationships, and improving one day at a time.

Confidence isn't something you wait to feel.

It's something you earn through repetition.

My Challenge to You

If you're in your own ugly phase today, don't quit because the path feels difficult.

Instead, ask yourself:

• What am I learning?
• Who can help me improve?
• What can I do better tomorrow than I did today?

Small improvements create remarkable careers.

Continue Reading

The Korn Ferry article provides additional research and insights into why this stage is so important for long-term success.

👉 Read it here:
https://www.kornferry.com/insights/briefings-magazine/issue-74/the-ugly-phase-can-you-survive-it

You may be in the ugly phase today.

That doesn't mean you're failing.

It may simply mean you're becoming the professional you're meant to be.

Success Leaves Clues. Start Paying Attention (July 21, 2026)

Today marked the beginning of another athletic year for me as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Communications at Spartanburg Methodist College.

Like many departments across the country, our coaches and staff gathered before our student-athletes return in the coming days. We talked about culture, expectations, and the year ahead.

One exercise stood out.

Each of us was asked to create a life timeline.

We identified the moments that shaped who we are—the victories, the disappointments, the people who influenced us, and the experiences that changed our direction.

Because of the size of the group and the limited time we had together, I wasn't able to share my entire timeline.

As I reflected afterward, I realized something.

My career makes much more sense looking backward than it ever did looking forward.

None of It Was Wasted

When I was a student at Columbus State Community College, I had no idea where the next 25-plus years would take me.

There wasn't a master plan.

There wasn't a roadmap that guaranteed success.

There were simply opportunities.

Some I pursued.

Some I missed.

Some I never saw coming.

Every internship...

Every late night at a sporting event...

Every mentor...

Every mistake...

Every difficult conversation...

Every championship...

Every setback...

Each became another point on my timeline.

Individually, they didn't seem life-changing.

Collectively, they became my career.

That's why I believe something I've heard for years:

Success leaves clues.

You just have to start paying attention.

The Clues Are Everywhere

One of the biggest mistakes young professionals make is believing success is hidden.

It isn't.

The clues are everywhere.

Watch how great athletic communicators prepare for game day.

Notice how they write.

Observe how they handle pressure when something unexpected happens.

Listen carefully to how they communicate with coaches, administrators, officials, photographers, broadcasters, and student-athletes.

Pay attention to what they do after everyone else has gone home.

Their habits are teaching you something.

Their consistency is teaching you something.

Even their mistakes are teaching you something.

If you're willing to observe, every day becomes another opportunity to learn.

Borrow Experience Before You Have It

One of the fastest ways to grow your career is to learn from people who are already doing the job you hope to have.

Ask questions.

Request informational interviews.

Volunteer at conferences.

Shadow someone for a day.

Read articles written by experienced professionals.

Study press releases, feature stories, social media strategies, game notes, and websites from departments you admire.

Don't copy them.

Understand why they make the decisions they make.

The best professionals aren't just producing content.

They're solving problems.

When you understand how experienced professionals think, you'll begin solving problems differently yourself.

My Perspective

Looking back at my own timeline, I can point to dozens of people who changed my career without realizing it.

Some were supervisors.

Some were coworkers.

Some were competitors.

Some were people I only met once.

Each left behind a clue.

Sometimes it was a conversation.

Sometimes it was constructive criticism.

Sometimes it was simply watching them work.

Those moments continue to shape how I lead, communicate, and mentor today.

That's why I believe mentorship doesn't always happen in scheduled meetings.

Sometimes it happens simply because you're paying attention.

Put It Into Practice

This week, create the first version of your own career timeline.

It doesn't need to be perfect.

Include the moments that have shaped you so far.

The people who influenced you.

The opportunities that stretched you.

The setbacks that taught you something.

Then ask yourself one question:

What clues have those experiences already given me?

You may discover that you're much further along than you think.

Reflection

Who is one professional you admire?

Not because of their title.

Not because of their awards.

Because of the way they consistently approach their work.

This week, pay attention to how they communicate, prepare, lead, and serve others.

Success rarely announces itself.

It leaves clues.

The people who grow the fastest are the ones who notice them.

Stay Connected.

Part 3: The Best Careers Are Built Together (June 23, 2026)

For most people working in college athletics, there is one thing they all remember.

The person who answered.

Not the biggest name in the profession.
Not the athletic director.
Not the conference commissioner.

The person who took ten minutes to answer an email.
The person who agreed to have coffee.
The person who reviewed a résumé.
The person who made an introduction.
The person who simply said...

"Keep going. You're going to be okay."

Those moments matter more than we often realize.

When you're just starting out, college athletics can feel intimidating. Everyone seems to know everyone else. Every job asks for experience you don't yet have. Every application feels like you're sending your résumé into a black hole.

It's easy to believe you're the only one trying to figure it out.

You're not.

Every respected sports communicator was once the person asking questions.

They wondered if they belonged.
They questioned whether they were good enough.
They worried they would never get their first opportunity.

Someone helped them.

Maybe it was a supervisor.
Maybe it was a graduate assistant.
Maybe it was another SID they met at a convention.

Someone made the profession feel a little smaller.

That's how our profession has always grown.

Not through competition.

Through connection.

That belief sits at the center of why I am writing this blog and setting a foundation for future efforts.

It isn't about building another network.

It's about building a community where experienced professionals intentionally make the path easier for those coming behind them.

Because none of us got here completely on our own.

Every conversation has the potential to change someone's career.

Every introduction has the potential to open a door.

Every encouraging message has the potential to keep someone from giving up.

Imagine if every experienced communicator committed to helping just one young professional every year.

How many careers would change?

How many talented people would stay in our profession instead of leaving because they felt invisible?

That future doesn't happen because of one organization.

It happens because individuals decide someone else's success matters.

I started this blog as the foundation piece so that no passionate future college sports communicator has to begin their career alone.

If we build that culture together, everyone wins.

The Smartest Person in the Room Asks the Most Questions (June 19, 2026)

"I will ask a thousand questions. I don't mind looking like I don't know. Please educate me. Being open to admitting what you don't know—some people are very uncomfortable with that and it could be a challenge." — Julie Fussner

Early in my career, I thought the quickest way to earn respect was to have the answers.

If I knew enough, worked hard enough, and avoided mistakes, people would see my value.

What I've learned over the past 26 years is almost the opposite.

The people who continue to grow are rarely the ones pretending to know everything. They are the ones who remain curious. They ask thoughtful questions. They seek advice. They invite correction. Most importantly, they understand that learning never stops.

That mindset is becoming increasingly rare.

Many young professionals enter interviews believing they need to impress everyone with what they know. New graduate assistants feel pressure to prove they belong. Entry-level communicators worry that asking a question will make them appear inexperienced.

In reality, refusing to ask questions often reveals more than asking them ever could.

There is a difference between ignorance and curiosity.

Ignorance says, "I don't know, and I don't care."

Curiosity says, "I don't know yet. Teach me."

That single word—yet—changes everything.

The Best Mentors Want Your Questions

Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to learn from professionals who invested their time in me.

None of them expected me to know everything.

They expected me to listen.

They expected me to work.

They expected me to ask questions.

Every meaningful mentor I've had appreciated curiosity far more than confidence.

Why?

Because questions demonstrate humility.

Questions demonstrate engagement.

Questions demonstrate that you're willing to improve.

This Is One of the Reasons Why I Blog

One of the biggest reasons I started to blog is because too many students and young professionals believe they have to figure everything out on their own.

They don't.

This blog isn't built around having all the answers.

It's built around creating conversations where questions are welcomed.

Whether someone is preparing for their first internship, applying for a graduate assistantship, interviewing for an entry-level athletic communications position, or simply trying to understand the profession better, I want them to know this:

Ask.

Reach out.

Schedule the informational interview.

Send the email.

Follow up.

The people who are willing to help usually remember what it was like when they were starting, too.

Connection begins with a question.

Communication begins with a question.

Collaboration begins with a question.

Those three principles form the foundation of why I blog.

Don't Protect Your Ego. Protect Your Growth.

Some people avoid asking questions because they fear looking uninformed.

Ironically, that fear often keeps them from becoming informed.

Growth has always required humility.

Every expert was once a beginner.

Every respected athletic communicator once asked where to stand during a postgame interview, how to write a game recap, or how to prepare for media day.

Nobody starts as an expert.

The difference is that some people stop asking questions too soon.

Don't be one of them.

The smartest person in the room isn't necessarily the one speaking the most.

Often, it's the one asking the best questions.

Because every great career begins with a willingness to learn.

The Practical Path to Success (June 10, 2026)

We often hear that being an optimist means wearing rose-colored glasses, looking only at the sunny side, and ignoring the bumps in the road. But is that what true optimism really is?

Kate Chappell once noted:

"An optimist is not someone who always looks on the bright side of things, but someone who understands practical ways things happen and anticipates that they will be successful. Pessimists say there are so many obstacles it's never going to work out."

This perspective changes everything. True optimism isn't about blind wishful thinking or pretending that challenges don't exist. It is a mindset grounded in reality. It means looking at a goal, mapping out the practical steps required to get there, acknowledging the potential hurdles, and moving forward with the firm belief that you will succeed.

While a pessimist sees an obstacle as a dead end, a practical optimist sees it as a puzzle to be solved. Success doesn't happen by accident; it happens through intention, strategy, and a resilient mindset. When you change how you look at challenges, you change your outcomes.

Let’s Navigate Your Journey Together

Every great journey comes with its own unique set of obstacles, but you don't have to navigate them alone. Whether you are trying to overcome a professional hurdle, streamline your daily processes, or find practical ways to reach your next big milestone, I am here to support you.

I am fully available to help you clear the path to your success. I offer tailored guidance, practical solutions, and the strategic support you need to turn your obstacles into stepping stones. Together, we can anticipate your success and build a clear, actionable roadmap to get you there.

Ready to take the next step? Reach out today, and let's start working on your journey to success!

Confidence Is Built, Not Felt (January 9, 2026)

 Why Action Comes Before Assurance for SIDs

Confidence is one of the most misunderstood concepts in professional development—especially early in an SID’s career.

Many believe confidence is something you feel before you act.

In reality, confidence is something you earn after you act.

This misunderstanding keeps capable professionals stuck, waiting for a feeling that only arrives through experience.

The Confidence Myth in Athletic Communications

In athletics communications, uncertainty is constant:

• New responsibilities

• High-visibility mistakes

• Competing expectations from coaches and administrators

• Public scrutiny with little margin for error

It is easy to assume that confident SIDs simply feel more prepared.

They do not.

They have simply acted enough times in uncomfortable situations to trust themselves.

Confidence is not a prerequisite for leadership—it is the byproduct.

Action Creates Evidence

Confidence grows when you collect evidence.

Evidence looks like:

• Handling a difficult postgame situation professionally

• Managing a crisis communication calmly

• Making a decision without full clarity and adjusting effectively

• Standing by a standard when pressure pushes back

Each action becomes proof that you can operate under stress.

Waiting for confidence delays this evidence. Acting creates it.

Why Hesitation Feels Safer (But Isn’t)

Hesitation often disguises itself as caution.

In reality, hesitation usually stems from fear:

• Fear of being wrong

• Fear of criticism

• Fear of exposure

Ironically, prolonged hesitation increases anxiety. The situation does not disappear—it lingers.

Foundational Comfort allows SIDs to move forward despite discomfort, knowing that growth requires repetition, not perfection.

Confidence Is Context-Specific

Confidence is not global. It is situational.

An SID may feel confident in game notes but uncertain in crisis communication. Comfortable with statistics but hesitant in leadership conversations.

That is normal.

The solution is not waiting—it is targeted action.

Confidence in any area is built by:

• Entering the situation

• Executing the process

• Reviewing what worked and what did not

Repeat this cycle enough times, and confidence follows.

Foundational Comfort Fuels Action

Foundational Comfort does not eliminate doubt.

It allows action in the presence of doubt.

SIDs with Foundational Comfort understand:

• Feeling unsure does not mean being unprepared

• Discomfort is not danger

• Mistakes are part of development, not disqualifiers

This mindset creates momentum.

Momentum builds confidence faster than reassurance ever could.

Question

Confidence is not something you wait for.

It is something you construct through disciplined action.

Ask yourself:

• Where am I waiting to feel ready instead of starting?

• What small action would create evidence today?

• What discomfort am I avoiding that could accelerate growth?

Foundational Comfort is not the absence of doubt.

It is the willingness to move forward anyway.

Reflection: What action will you take today that future confidence will be built upon?

Fundamentals Don’t Change When Pressure Rises (January 8, 2026)

Why Strong SIDs Double Down When It Gets Hard?

Pressure has a way of exposing habits.

In athletic communications, pressure shows up quickly:

• Tight deadlines

• Emotional losses

• Competing priorities

• Public scrutiny

When pressure rises, many professionals instinctively adjust—but not always in the right direction. Fundamentals are rushed. Checks are skipped. Standards soften in the name of urgency.

That is where leadership separates itself.

Pressure Does Not Require New Skills

One of the most common misconceptions in high-pressure environments is that difficulty requires reinvention.

It does not.

Pressure does not demand new fundamentals—it demands greater commitment to existing ones.

For SIDs, fundamentals remain constant:

• Accuracy

• Preparation

• Clear communication

• Consistent workflow

• Professional tone

These do not change because the game was a loss, the coach is frustrated, or the timeline compressed.

Pressure tests whether fundamentals were truly internalized—or merely followed when convenient.

Why Fundamentals Are Often the First to Go

Under stress, the brain looks for relief.

That relief often comes from shortcuts:

• Publishing before fully verifying

• Communicating emotionally instead of clearly

• Skipping process steps to meet perceived urgency

These shortcuts feel helpful in the moment. Long-term, they erode trust.

Foundational Comfort allows SIDs to resist that impulse. It creates enough internal steadiness to say:

We will move quickly—but not carelessly.

Fundamentals Create Predictability

In unstable environments, predictability becomes valuable.

When coaches, administrators, and colleagues know what to expect from you—regardless of circumstances—confidence builds.

Fundamentals provide that predictability:

• Deadlines are honored

• Messages are consistent

• Mistakes are owned and corrected

This consistency reduces friction, even when outcomes disappoint.

Strong SIDs are not reactive. They are reliable.

Pressure Is the Audit

Pressure moments function as an audit.

They reveal:

• Whether preparation was sufficient

• Whether standards were internalized

• Whether process is discipline or decoration

If fundamentals fall apart under pressure, the issue is rarely pressure itself. The issue is what was never fully solidified beforehand.

Foundational Comfort grows when SIDs treat pressure as feedback—not failure.

Doubling Down Is a Leadership Decision

Choosing to maintain fundamentals when pressure rises is not passive. It is a leadership decision.

It communicates:

• Stability

• Competence

• Professional maturity

It also signals to others that standards are not situational.

Leaders who relax fundamentals when it gets hard unintentionally teach teams that standards are optional.

Question

Pressure will always exist in this profession.

The differentiator is how you respond to it.

Ask yourself:

• Which fundamental am I most tempted to shortcut under pressure?

• What process step deserves more protection, not less?

• How can I reinforce consistency when urgency increases?

Foundational Comfort is not proven when things are easy.

It is proven when pressure rises—and fundamentals hold.

Reflection: When pressure increases today, which fundamental will you intentionally double down on?